Nosek’s goal in 3rd helps Golden Knights beat Islanders 3-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Tomas Nosek jumped on a loose puck to help the Vegas Golden Knights’ open their trip with a victory.

Nosek scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period and the surging Golden Knights beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Wednesday night for their ninth win in 11 games.

Oscar Lindberg’s shot from the top of the left circle was stopped by goalie Robin Lehner. However, as the puck lay at the right side, neither Lehner nor defenseman Thomas Hickey immediately went for it, and Nosek put it in for his third 3:32 into the third.

“I saw the puck was loose so I just tried to go under (Hickey’s) stick, and I think I hit that and the post and then put it in.” Nosek said. “It’s great to have a win like that on the road.”

The play started with a turnover by defensemen Ryan Pulock in the corner and Vegas’ Ryan Carpenter got the puck to Lindberg.

“It was a quick turnover and Lindy did a good job getting open and he got a good, quick shot, maybe surprised the goalie,” Carpenter said. “And then Nosek did a good job outworking that guy and winning the battle in front.”

Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson also scored for the Golden Knights, who are 10-3-1 at home but improved to 8-11-0 on the road in the opener of a four-game trip. Marc-Andre Fleury, who made his 11th straight start, stopped 23 shots to take over the NHL victory lead with 18.

Anthony Beauvillier and Adam Pelech scored for New York. The Islanders have lost six of eight (2-4-2). Robin Lehner finished with 14 saves to fall to 0-4-2 in his last seven appearances.

“We played well in so many areas of the game but we gave them things that were a little bit unforced,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “Turnovers cost us.”

On Nosek’s go-ahead goal, Hickey said there was miscommunication between him and Lehner.

“It’s on the both of us to communicate and get it out of harm or recover it,” he said.

Pelech nearly tied it about three minutes later, but his shot rang off the goalpost.

New York pulled Lehner for an extra skater with a little more than a minute remaining, but couldn’t get the equalizer.

Vegas’ 17 shots on goal was a season-low, eclipsing the 21 they had in a 1-0 win at Philadelphia on Oct. 13.

“We didn’t have a ton of shots,” Carpenter said. “Fleury made some big saves for us, we capitalized on some chances. Starting the road trip like this definitely feels good and gives us some confidence.”

The Islanders failed to score on their lone power-play chance to fall to 1 for 28 over the last 12 games.

Fleury made successive stops on Mathew Barzal in front about 6 1/2 minutes into the second period to keep the score tied 1-1.

New York then went ahead when Barzal brought the puck up the left side on a rush, stopped and sent the puck to Pelech at the center point and the defenseman fired it in for his third with 8:41 left. Barzal got his second assist of the game and team-leading 22nd of the season.

After a giveaway by Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy, Karlsson tied it 2-2 with a shot from the right circle for his 11th with 3:29 left in the middle period.

Vegas went on the power play just 19 seconds into the game when the Islanders’ Casey Cizikas was whistled for cross-checking. The Golden Knights took advantage just 15 seconds later as Marchessault got a pass from defenseman Colin Miller in the right circle and beat Lehner up high from the dot for his 12th.

Beauvillier tied it less than three minutes later. He took a pass from Johnny Boychuk in front and beat Fleury through the five-hole at 3:17 for his ninth.

NOTES: The start of the third period was delayed about 15 minutes due to a lighting issue in the arena. … Karlsson has six goals and seven points in his last nine games. … Marchessault needs one point for 100 with the Golden Knights. … Lindberg’s assist on Nosek’s goal gave him five points in his last five games. … The teams conclude the season series at Vegas on Dec. 20. … The Islanders, who won both meetings last season in Vegas’ inaugural campaign, were the last team the Golden Knights had not beaten. … Beauvillier has eight goals and 10 points in his last 13 games. … Trotz was facing Vegas for the first time since leading Washington past the Golden Knights in five games in the Stanley Cup Final in June.